martindale



(No Model.)

MARTINI)ALE.`

INDEX 0R DIRECTORY CASE.

No. 324,861. Patented Aug.. 25, 1885.

WI TJV ESSE S4 l Y IINITED arena rricn..

ELIJAH B. MARTINDAIJE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

INDEX OR DIRECTORY'CASE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,861, dated August. 25, 1885.

(No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH B. MARTINDALE, of the city of Indianapolis, county of Marion,

and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Index or Directory Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to that class of indexes which consist of a ease of indexsheets adapted to be displayed one at a time, and is adapted to serve as a substitute for various indexes, directories. Sie. rlhis invention is especially designed for service as a telephone-direetory, and this is the use for which I have particularly designed it.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure l is a front elevation of a case or box embodying my invention, a portion of the front being broken away; Fig. 2, a vertical sectionalview of the same, looking` toward the left from the dotted line yy; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the sheets, and Fig. 4 a detail section on the dotted line e e.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the sheets, and B the inclosingcase.

The case is usually a pasteboard or light wood box of a size and shape to just accommodate the sheets, the lower end being open to permit said sheets to be pulled down for use. Its sides are preferably provided with grooves, which serve as ways for the sheets, as shown in Fig. 4.-, although said sheets are capable ot' being successfully operated without ways. The sheets are arranged in the case so that each one projects slightly below the one in front, so that the lower edges of allare eX- posed. Each is suspended to the top of the box by an elastic cord or spring, a, which permits it to be drawn down, as desired, and which is adapted to automatically draw it back into position when released. Each is provided at the lower end with a tag or pull,c,by which it is drawn down, and upon which a letter or numeral,indicative of the matter inscribed on the sheets, may be placed. The lower part of each sheet A is recessed, and a second sheet, A", hinged to the lower end, ai, of the thickV upper portion, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The hinge is generally formed by making the upper portion of the hinged sheet A2 at the point c2, where it joins onto the sheet A', flexible, and the device, as a whole, thus appears like a thick sheet having its lower end split. rIhe elastic cord c is connected to a point on this sheet A2 a short distance below its hinge, and operates, when the sheets are drawn down, to draw up said sheet A2, so as to expose the under or back side. In this way an inscription occupying the back side of this sheet and the front side of the lower p0rtion of the sheet Amay be displayed, as desired, the cord c serving both to sustain both the sheets A and A2 and to raise the sheetAZ, as will be presently described. The operation of my said invention is as follows: The proper matter is first printed or otherwise inscribed upon the back of the several hinged sheets A2 andthe front of the/lower portions of the several main sheets A in such relation that when the lower end of a sheet, A2,

is raised up the matter will read continuously down both sheets. The several sheets are then mounted in the case, as shown, one behind the other, each one depending a short distance below the one in front, and the lower edges or tags attached thereto being inscribed with letters or other characters to indicate the character of the mattei' inscribed thereon. In the drawings each is shown with a letter of the alphabet inscribed thereon, and the device is thus adapted for index or directory purposes, the names beingthe m'atterinseribed upon the sheets.

As -will be readily understood this arrangement is-oi" great convenience and value in a telephone-directory, the case being adapted to be secured to the wall alongside the telephone, and the sheets adapted to be drawn down one at a time, as the information thereon. is desired i'or use. As each sheet is pulled down when it reaches the point where the sheet A2 is entirely below the bottom of the sheets in front, the elastic a acts to draw said sheet A2 up in the position in which one of them is shown in Fig. 2, and holds it in that position until the use is completed,when it is returned to its former position withinV the ease by simpl y folding said sheet A2 down against the sheet A,whe11 said elastic a draws both back up into the case. As the sheets reach their highest position they are stopped in place by coming in contact with the top of the grooves in the case B', in which IOO they slide,or with stops provided for the purpose.

Having thus fully described my saidy invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a case, of aseries of sheets independently mounted ou elastic cords or springs, inscribed with index ordirectory matter, and provided With indicator characters or letters on the lower ends, each sheet being arranged to drop slightly below the one in front, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a case, sheets A,sus

pended therein, supplemental sheets hinged thereto, and an elastic cord, a, extending from I5 a point below said hinge on said sheet A2 to a point above said sheets in said case, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 2o 17th day of May, A. D. 1884.

ELIJAH B. MARTINDALE. [Le] In presence of- C. BRADFORD, CRAs. L. THURBER. 

